Regions, Institutions, and Law of the Sea: Studies in Ocean Governance offers fresh perspectives both on issues specific to major ocean regions, and on the nature and functions of institutions that implement the legal order of the oceans. Of special interest is a set of chapters by distinguished scholars and jurists providing nuanced analysis of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea as a key actor in the institutional and regime structure. Other expert authors contribute timely analysis of specific ocean uses in the context of implementation of "soft" and "hard" law. Piracy, global warming and ecosystem challenges, geo-engineering, control of pollution in shipping operations, Seabed Authority policy, and performance of the UN Regional Seas Programme are among key issues presented in both their regional and legal dimensions. Also considered in depth are law, ocean policy, and the operation of international organizations in Northeast Asia, Latin America, the Indian Ocean region, the African coastal areas, and the Arctic. The accessibility of subject matter and the readability of the text's 26 chapters enhance the value of this book as an important addition to the literature. Regions, Institutions, and Law of the Sea is the latest publication of the Law of the Sea Institute at UC Berkeley, a major voice in the global debates of contemporary ocean law and policy. Inha University-Incheon was a major co-sponsor of the project.

On 16 November 1994, the 1992 U.N. Law of the Sea Convention took effect. Progress is now evident in the implementation of Chapter 17 of Agenda 21, as reviewed by the 1997 UNGA Special Session. These developments and the establishment of the International Seabed Authority (ISBA) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) make the continuation of the NILOS Documentary Yearbook, now in its 11th year, of particular significance in the years to come. The Yearbook compiles the documents related to ocean affairs and the law of the sea issued each year by organizations, organs, and bodies of the United Nations system. These include documents of the U.N. General Assembly, ECOSOC and its regional Commissions, the U.N. Secretary-General's Informal Consultations, PrepCom ISA/ITLOS, UNCED, UNEP and UNCTAD; followed by the documents of specialized agencies and other autonomous organizations of the U.N. system, including FAO, IAEA, ILO, IMO, UNESCO/IOC and WMO. The Yearbook reproduces in full documents issued in the course of the most recent year and lists other relevant documents. The NILOS Documentary Yearbook has proved of invaluable assistance in facilitating access by the community of scholars and practitioners in ocean affairs and the law of the sea to essential documentation.

The NILOS yearbooks provide the reader with a collection of documents related to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, issued each year by organizations, organs and bodies of the United Nations system. Documents of the UN General Assembly, ECOSOC and its regional Commissions, the UN Secretary-General's Informal Consultations, PrepCom ISA/ITLOS, UNCED, UNEP and UNCTAD are included first, followed by the documents of specialized agencies and other autonomous organizations of the UN system, including FAO, IAEA, ILO, IMO, UNESCO/IOC and WMO.